Hi all,

A friend of mine is curious how much this old Harry drake recurve might be worth.

He made a leather grip and shelf for it. I suggested we take it off and clean it up. I couldn't find a poundage mark on it but he shot in the mid 50# range I believe.

He hunted a lot with it. His friends all made fun of him for having such a short bow as it was one of the first short recurves around he said.

sorry not the greatest pictures

Nice Hunter-Flite! 54" bow. Mine is in nicer shape than this one, and I paid $212 shipped on the auction site.

Nice looking old bow.

ok thanks Frisky

Doug always refers to it as a "Fire Drake"?

The bow, in the condition shown, would probably go for $90 to $125 at auction. Redone, it would be a beauty! The Fire Drakes were on the long side. Usually around 68" or so. Skookum can tell you for sure. This is a short bow and appears to be the short hunting model called the Hunter-Flite. They were 54". They were made in the later 50s to into the 60s. I can't see the grip. If it has a pronounced pistol grip, it would likely be a 6os bow. If a more normal grip, probably a 50s. They're super fast. Mine shot like crap until I raised the brace height to 7.5". It then shot right on. I'm hunting with mine. Had two mature bucks surround me as I hid in a field tonight. One at 5 yards, the other at 10. They were suspicious but didn't run off. I just couldn't get a shot. The little Hunter-Flite is perfect for this type of ground hunting. Most were said to be on the heavy pulling side. Mine is 45 pounds though. You can take a look at the grip on mine. I call them the Holy Grail of Bows.

Joe

Here's another pic of mine.

I think your friend's bow is an old one.

I keep looking for one of those to buy. Frisky, yours is a great looker.

well I'll clean it up and see how it looks. Yes it is the short one and he was into bowhunting early on so I'm guessing around 1960. He shot a 180 buck with it but doesn't have the mount any longer. I don't think the bottom of the riser goes in like yours Frisky. Seems more smooth of a transition. I would think he wouldn't want to let it go for too little. He also has a 67 kodiak mag his wife bought for him as a gift. She passed away from cancer a few years ago. She was a gem.

He is a knife maker. makes beautiful damascus knives. He's the guy that got me into shooting a longbow. Told me I should make my own. In fact he said I have a friend that has an old piece of lemon wood from Cuba that never got a bow made out of it. He says give me $20 and I'll make an offer for you. He got it for me and I bought a piece of bamboo to back it with and shot a doe with it that year.

Gaur- go ahead and clean it up. It is a 50s bow if it has the more normal looking grip. Has tips identical to mine. Most have an arched lamination stripe going through the riser. I don't see that on yours. Look at the limbs and see if it has the "power lam" a little wedge of wood, about 7" long, spliced in at the end of the limbs.

I'd like to see a pic of your lemonwood and bamboo bow.

Joe

neise- They are out there. Keep watching.

Keep taking yours up Frisky. Maybe the value will go up ;)

My 1st bamboo backed lemonwood wasn't much to write home about. It had a hinge and pretty bad hand shock but that is the beauty of lemon wood it's durable . I made another one about two years ago and made more of a hill style that was much better

Those tips look pretty refined...like the Bears from 59-61.

They definitely look like very good bows.

The tips are smaller than a dime and fit a Bateman stringer perfectly.

Joe

This bow was 350.00 but its nice and been redone I got from Nontypical, Chris the bow from the other thread. I could not get strung unless I used the rubber to depress the limb then I could slide the string up.

Ryman- I can't get the rubber block stringers to work on any bow, especially the Drake. A Bateman tip to tip stringer is perfect though.

Joe

Thanks a nice looking bow Ryman. I'm going to clean up Dougs and refinish it. I'll have to shoot it some to see what all the fuss is about Frisky

I would give you $20 for a whole barrel full.

Backcountry- When Guar is done refinishing that bow, you'll be eating your words!

Joe

Many don't know these bows and what they shoot like they are sweet. Frisky I was totally afraid to push pull it. The tips seem to be smaller than all my other drakes also. This is the bow Steve showed last week I got ofrf Chris. I strung it up a went out and shot a ground hog at 50 yards then the following night I shott my NJ. doe to get my buck tag. This little bow shoots. Its quiet also no string silencers on it either yet I could not believe it. I already nicked it hunting with it also I am sick over. Beautiful Rose wood also. I think I am up to 5 Drakes now and this short one is the latest.

Whaaat?? I meant that as a compliment, Friskers. I really would give $20 for a barrel full. Especially if they were signed by Harry Drake or Fred Anderson.

I actually am intrigued by the Drakes--recent photos show incredibly beautiful workmanship. Glad some were made without the turquoise-colored glass. Sure would like to shoot one and see if they live up to all of Frisky's hype.

If Ryman wasn't such a bow hog, maybe there'd be a few more floating around so the rest of us could try them. HE's the one who should start the grail pass around.

Ryman is a good shot or he was hunting a moron groundhog and doe that just stood there while he emptied his quiver. The Hunter-Flite is super quiet as Ryman mentioned. You can hunt with them without silencers. Very fast too.

My turquoise glass is actually sky blue. The finish yellowed and caused the greenish cast. Mine is the most beautiful of the Drakes. Ryman's is second as long as we keep Tom Baldwin's bows at bay. He's the real Drake hog.

Joe

You know that kinda hurts a little because darn it I have to admit it it's all because of this desease.I had some guys come to me at the Baltimore shoot and say Cat we know where some Drakes are for you? LOL

Where, where let me at them.LOL

I don't know but since I got onto them I really like them.LOL

The tips are the state of the art and think about how long ago they came out and now a days guys are getting their tips even reworked finding this out.

I traded a 1957 Kodiak for my first Drake and thats all it took. Ed's repos are sweet also before this bow came I got a Hunter Flight that was in the classifieds at 54" 54@ 28.

My buddy came over this morning to see what I was up to and I sprung some bows that came lately. He yeah this bows really nice but it stacks after 28. Really now ok tell me what you think draw her back. Well know not at all its smooth. Ok you know why I like these so much.LOL

I love seeing old dogs get reworked especially when narrow minds enter the room and need to get reeducated from old underestandings.LOL

Ryman- In the past, I considered you less than a valid humanoid, but your choice in bows proved me wrong. I now consider you a connoisseur of fine bows! A top official in the Holy Grail Club!

I have to agree on the smoothness of the Hunter-Flite. It's about the smoothest drawing bow I've drawn. I only draw 28" but it sure is smooth. You're right about the refinement of the tips too. Puts to shame nearly all bows out there. Don't forget the short "power lams" spliced into the ends of the limbs. How about the "half and half" construction of the sight window or that beautiful grip! When I first took mine out of the box, I was blown away by the elegantly sculptured grip and riser and the beautiful tapers to the limbs. The original poster asked about Drake value. To me, they're priceless!

Joe

Ha, Ha, Ha. Frisky on late night. I'm almost to 29 myself and it is really smooth but so is all my other Drakes they are way before their time. I guess harry made a buisness decision but sure would have been nice if he continued but then we wouldn't have these classics. I think thats why Brownings are so good always loved all my Browning bows as well.

This is a real classic. I have to say though that Ed Holcomb has done a fine job with his repos as well. I have a couple of his Drake repos and one is a 54" 54 @ 28. Really like that bow also.

Cat the bow Hog.LOL

A little update on the refinishing project of Doug's bow. Took off the old leather grip and shelf. Thought about leaving it on as Doug did a nice job on it and it felt nice in the hand. But after taking it off the finish was darker underneath so I decided to sand her down and refinish her completely. I did leave the drake logo alone but too everything else off. Her is how she looks with a few coats of tru oil on.

I think I am going to hunt with this bow in a few weeks and see if I can take a deer with it. As I mentioned Doug got me interested in trad archery. He looked down at the bow as he handed it to me and said. " had a lot of good times with this bow".

He said all the guys laughed at the bow but they couldn't believe how flat it shot .

Only markings I could find on the bow was 6133 stamped on the right side of the riser

Wonder if that is for 1961 and the 33rd bow produced that year?

Still need quite a few coats to fill the pores in the riser wood which I think is Paduak??

Very nice! I guess you can't determine much by Drake serial numbers. Mine is 7749. It has a grip style said to have been later than yours. However, ours are probably only a year or so apart. Your tips are identical (color and all) to mine. Skookum told us a man named Mart Mathew put on the tips. He did most of the work on these bows and passed away in 1965.

Joe

Great job on your old bow.

Good luck on your hunts.

I really like that bow.

I am looking for one.

well I bought the bow from my friend Doug after I refinished it. He said I should have it since I did such a nice job on it and I appreciated the bow. I have been shooting it and boy do I like it. I fletched up some Centershot 500 and took about an inch off of them. They shoot real nice with 175 grain tips on them and I'll hunt with Grizzly BH on them. I put the bow on a scale and it comes out at 52#@29" my draw. I've been gone overseas for 3 weeks and hoping to get back out this weekend.

Here is a pic of me hunting Oct 29 last day I made it out before I left for my trip.

Bro you did a wonderful job these are great bows. I have several real Drakes myself and also 2 of Holcoms repos that are magnificent. All have skinny strings and padded loops as well that had enhanced the performance considerably too.

All my Drakes shot as well if not better than any custom I have and I have a lot of them to know. For me when I hold a Drake in my hand it seems like it is magical if there is such a thing? LOL

Awesome job Guar. Glad to see so many folks enjoying the bows that we grew up with. It's right and it's cool too.

Ryman I plan to make a skinny padded loop string but haven't yet. I did get some nice wool from a friend and wool sure quieted her down.

Thanks George. Hoping to connect on a deer this weekend to be able to show Doug that his bow still has mojo going.

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